Hello and welcome!
My name is Trina and I am the author of Harvesting Quality Thyme.
One thing I love most about gardening is that you can always be learning something new and developing your skills. Every season is different, and unique in its own way.
Maybe there was a different weather pattern, or perhaps you tried a new method, or a new plant variety. For me, the joy and excitement never runs out in the garden.
It is my happy place, my place to slow down and be present, and my place to truly appreciate nature. It is about taking time for yourself to enjoy the little moments in life that will make lasting memories and spread positivity throughout your day.
I have always loved being outdoors, and I have a great appreciation for the natural world around us.
It is my hope to inspire you to find more ways to grow healthy herbs, nourish your soul, and work in harmony with nature. I invite you to join in as we harvest some quality time together and incorporate more of nature’s beauty into our lives.
Grow Healthy Herbs
There is nothing more satisfying than to walk out to your garden and see strong, healthy plants.
I started gardening as a child while helping my mom in our backyard vegetable garden. We mostly grew tomatoes, cucumbers, green beans, and the odd fun experiment such as broccoli. It wasn’t a huge garden, but it provided a lot of food in the summer for fresh eating.
One of my favourite parts of the garden was my mom’s herb garden. This is where I learned about incorporating more beauty into the garden – even before potager gardening became so popular.
The design of the herb garden was to have many herbs we can use, a mix of beautiful flowers, a couple dwarf berry bushes to snack from, and then of course some neat old thrift store or curb finds. Again – before thrifting was so cool.
This garden brought so much joy from the aroma, to its unique beauty. It really taught me that you do not need to give up “nice landscaping” to have an edible garden, but rather just incorporate the two together.
One of my favourite memories is when my mom would give me a bowl or basket from the kitchen and say something like “would you please go out to the garden and get me some green beans and carrots for dinner”.
I always found it so fun to go out and pick fresh veggies right there in our backyard garden. And then of course – I was also excited to eat whatever my mom was preparing that day.
The trick to growing healthy plants is to be attentive, to always be open to learning something new, and to never give up.
There are so many gardening methods out there, but there is only one “right” way for you to do it. No one can tell you exactly what the “right” way is for you because each garden is unique with its own strengths and challenges. That being said, I think it is so important to gather knowledge from many gardeners and then try things out, and experiment, until you find what works best for you.
I have tried many, many gardening methods. I am excited to share some of my biggest successes and failures so that you may glean some insight for your own garden.
Nourish Your Soul
During summer mornings, you will find me sipping tea and taking a tour through my garden. It is so nice to slow down, reflect and get a break from the busy 24/7 world we are currently living in.
There is something so calming about sitting and observing nature. Like watching a lady bug in the chamomile while you both enjoy the beauty and aroma of those pretty little flowers. Or just sitting there listening to the birds while feeling a warm summer breeze laden with the scent of fresh herbs.
Or how about that time I found the cutest little tree frog resting in one of my zucchini plant leaves! I mean – seriously how adorable is he? There really is no better way to slow down and connect with your natural surroundings than to be in the garden – at least for me anyway.
The garden really can have a lasting positive effect beyond any potential food you might harvest.
It can help you develop as a person by teaching you patience, discipline, perseverance, and gratitude. It can lower your stress levels, help you re-center, and provide some good physical exercise as well.
Gardening is not always easy, but if you really take the time to appreciate it, it will be so worth it.
Work in Harmony with Nature
I have a great respect for nature, not only as a gardener, but in all aspects of my life. It is amazing how many natural processes you can observe in the garden. Plants growing, pollinators, birds, soil life, and so much more.
I happily welcome all of these natural processes into my garden as it really has the biggest positive impact.
Instead of trying to fight against the natural processes, it is much more beneficial to work with them. For instance, I enjoy planting many types of flowers throughout my vegetables to attract pollinators and other beneficial bugs. It is amazing how fast these garden helpers show up when you provide them with the right environment.
I do not use any sort of pesticides or herbicides. I trust in the beneficial bugs, and healthy environment to keep everything in balance. When needed I use mesh or fleece covers to protect crops, and some other natural methods.
I practice “no-dig” gardening. At first I wondered if this method would work for me in my climate. I live in Ontario, Canada with heavy clay soil, and hot dry summers. I can say that for the last 6 years this method has been amazing.
Leaving the soil as undisturbed as possible really helps the soil life do its job. In the end no-dig methods provide me with healthy plants, sustainable environment, and bountiful harvests both for the mind and body.
The early spring garden pictured below has so much potential. A blank canvas just waiting for some creativity and care to become a beautiful place for relaxation and harvest.
If you have a love for gardening and learning new things, then I invite you to follow along this garden journey, so we can learn and be inspired together.
